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Flood risk

We would expect the proposed site to be assessed for flood risk from all sources in line with Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) , including coastal and fluvial sources.  If a flood risk is identified then a flood risk assessment (FRA) should be carried out in line with Scottish Planning Policy and following the guidance set out within the Annex to the SEPA Planning Authority flood risk protocol  (155k). Our technical guidance  (290k) outlines methodologies that may be appropriate for hydrological and hydraulic modelling and what information we require to be submitted as part of a FRA. See also Technical flood risk guidance revision note 1 - Estimation of coastal sea levels  (43kb).

Scottish planning policy

Scottish Planning Policy (SPP)  sets out the Scottish Government’s policy on nationally important land use planning matters. The SPP provides policy on flooding and drainage in paragraphs 196-211.  

Planning Advice Notes

Planning Advice Notes (PANS)  provide advice on good practice and information including PAN 69 Planning and Building Standards Advice on Flooding  which provides good practise advice on planning and building standards in areas where there is a risk of flooding.

The Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009

The Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009 (FRMS Act) provides a framework for the delivery of sustainable flood risk management in Scotland and requires Scottish Ministers, SEPA and responsible authorities to exercise their powers with a view to reducing overall flood risk.  The Planning System has a key role in this process.  SEPA currently has a duty to provide flood risk advice to Planning Authorities when consulted in relation to applications for development where the Planning Authority considers there may be a risk of flooding.  The FRMS Act reaffirms this duty (section 72) specifying the requirement to consider such data that SEPA possesses on flood risk when advising Planning Authorities, including the National Park Authorities.  Such data will, in time include information derived under other duties in the Act: preliminary flood risk assessment, any flood hazard and risk map, the flood risk management plan and any local flood risk management plan for the time being applicable to a local authority's district. 

This paper is therefore intended to update on the changes to the planning-flood risk system with respect to the commencement of the FRMS Act.

SEPA policy and guidance documents

• SEPA Flood Risk and Planning Briefing Note   (88kb)
• Flood risk position statement  (69k)
• Statement of Intent for Flood Warning  (38kb)
• SEPA Planning Authority Protocol (Policy 41)  (155k)
• Technical flood risk guidance for stakeholders  (290k)
• Technical flood risk guidance revision note 1 - Estimation of coastal sea levels  (43kb)
• SEPA Indicative River & Coastal Flood Map (Scotland)  

Regulatory and best practice advice

• Standing advice for small scale local development  (47k)
• Flooding publications

Further information, advice and guidance on flooding can also be found in the Flood risk section of the website.